COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina Board of Trustees approved today a new contract for women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley, which will make her the highest paid African-American head coach in her sport and one of the highest paid women's basketball coaches in the country. The seven-year, $22.4 million dollar deal secures Staley's partnership with the University through the 2027-28 season and reflects the University's long-term commitment to the sustained success of the program that she built over the last 13 seasons. "Dawn Staley is one of the nation's top coaches, regardless of the sport," said South Carolina Athletics Director Ray Tanner. "She has built our women's basketball program from the ground up, and her teams have produced champions, both on and off the floor. The ability to keep Coach Staley at the University of South Carolina is great news for all Gamecocks. I join with our fans in looking forward to seeing the great achievements her program will continue to produce in the future." Under the new contract, Staley's base salary will be $1 million per year with outside compensation starting at $1.9 million in the first year and escalation by $100,000 per year thereafter. Her 2021-22 compensation begins at $2.9 million with the final year topping out at $3.5 million. The contract includes additional performance compensation opportunities up to $680,000 per year. "It's always been an honor to represent the University of South Carolina, and this contract represents the University's commitment to supporting me and our women's basketball program," Staley said. "Contract negotiations are challenging, but this one was especially important as I knew it could be a benchmark, an example for other universities to invest in their women's basketball programs, too. Our game continues to grow and the time is ripe to make a big step forward, but only if universities foster that growth by committing resources that are equitable to those given to their men's programs. I thank Dr. Pastides, Coach Tanner and the Board of Trustees for providing that example today. And, lastly, I would be remiss to not also thank Butch Bowers, Angela O'Neal and our FAMS for their commitment and support." Since taking the reins of the program in May 2008, Staley made South Carolina into a perennial national power. The Gamecocks are one of three programs to play in at least three of the last six NCAA Final Fours (2015, 2017, 2021) and won the 2017 NCAA Championship. Staley's program has finished in the top 25 in each of the last 10 seasons, including seven seasons with a top-10 finish. South Carolina has earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament five times in her tenure and has spent 25 weeks ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll. South Carolina's four straight SEC Tournament titles from 2015 through 2018 were a first in league history, and the Gamecocks have won six of the last seven SEC Tournaments. With five SEC Regular-Season Championships, South Carolina has more than any other team since the league expanded to 14 teams in 2011-12. After a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame career as a player, which included five WNBA All-Star appearances and three Olympic gold medals, Staley has proven she can develop young talent as well. She has seen eight Gamecocks taken in the WNBA Draft in the last five seasons, including 2018 No. 1 overall pick A'ja Wilson, who went on to earn WNBA Rookie of the Year and 2020 WNBA MVP honors. Under her tutelage, two Gamecocks have captured National Player of the Year honors with one of those also picking up National Freshman of the Year recognition. Seven Gamecocks have collected 17 All-America selections, two have earned five SEC Player of the Year honors, three have earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year recognition five times, one has been the SEC 6th Player of the Year and six were named SEC Freshman of the Year. Staley has coached 16 Gamecocks to All-SEC honors a combined 31 times, including 16 first-team selections. Staley was named National Coach of the Year in 2020 after leading the Gamecocks to a No. 1 final ranking before the postseason was cut short du to the COVID-19 pandemic. She swept the title from every organization that bestowed it, which gave her the distinction of becoming the first person, male or female, to earn Naismith Player of the Year (1991, 1992) and Naismith Coach of the Year recognition. She has been SEC Coach of the Year four times and, prior to joining the Gamecocks, earned Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year twice (2004, 2005) in her tenure at Temple. Off the court, Staley has made South Carolina women's basketball a community event with Gamecock fans leading the NCAA in average attendance each of the last seven seasons. In the six seasons at which Colonial Life Arena permitted maximum capacity seating, South Carolina has averaged over 10,000 per game. Also a force in USA Basketball, Staley was named head coach of the U.S. Women's National Team in May 2017 and led the team to its record-tying seventh-straight Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games this summer. She has been on the sideline as a head or assistant coach or on the court as a player for six of those seven gold medals. As a head coach, Staley has been named USA Basketball National Coach of the Year twice (2018, 2015) and helped the U.S. to 11 international gold medals. Staley is set to tip off her 14th season leading the Gamecocks in November, facing one of the toughest schedules in the country. The Gamecocks' season opener is set for Nov. 9 at ACC Tournament champion NC State with the home opener coming on Nov. 17 against in-state rival Clemson. The rest of the home schedule includes reigning National Champion Stanford, NCAA Final Four participant UConn, Big Ten Champion Maryland and SEC Champion Texas A&M.

Courtesy - South Carolina Gamecocks

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - Pot holes, cracks and patches could become a thing of the past for some North Myrtle Beach roads.

The city of North Myrtle Beach has just received funds from the Horry County Transportation Committee to put toward repaving several streets.

“The traffic on Hillside [Drive] is something to behold, and it’s all day,” said Ken Pruitt, who lives near Hillside Drive South. “There’s not like a peak, it’s just all day long.”

When he’s not driving along Hillside Drive on his daily commute, Pruitt is probably biking or walking it with his wife. It’s a drive that’s been feeling bumpier and bumpier lately.

“We ride our bikes a lot, and that is not a joyful time on Hillside [Drive],” said Pruitt.

When he heard the city got some money from South Carolina’s gas tax, he felt like that extra 26 cents per gallon at the pump may actually be worth it.

“I’ve paid all these taxes in gas and then you see the streets you use every day getting paved. It does make you feel a bit better about it, if you can feel good about taxes,” said Pruitt.

The city got the gas tax money to handle state secondary roads like Hillside Drive, 2nd Avenue South, 9th Avenue South and Terminal Street.

Having that money from the state will allow it to put more money into city roads, which is fortunate, because the city has noticed repaving in general has been a bit pricier since the start of the pandemic.

“As everybody else from a restaurant to a part store to whatever has found out, either things are not available or you’re going to pay a higher price than you did in the past,” said North Myrtle Beach spokesperson Pat Dowling.

The city has had to set aside extra money when bidding out repaving projects, so having the gas tax funds from the state will help keep them on schedule, which will make cruising down Hillside Drive much smoother for Pruitt.

“I will be much happier on my bike on a smooth street for sure,” said Pruitt.

The city plans to start repaving in December, so expect some road closures and detours in the next few months until it’s finished.

The complete list of roads scheduled for repaving are:

Copyright 2021 WMBF. All rights reserved.

Gas prices in Myrtle Beach now average $3.05 per gallon, the highest since 2014, despite the slowdown in travel after summer ended.

What’s happening?

In just the last week, the region’s gas prices rose 11.3 cents per gallon, based on a survey of 197 pumps by GasBuddy. That increase is more than double the increase seen nationwide, which was an average of 5.2 cents.

Gas prices in Myrtle Beach also sit about 5 cents per gallon higher than South Carolina as a whole but are equivalent to North Carolina. Our northern neighbor also has an average price per gallon of $3.05.

Gas prices first jumped this year during the Colonial Pipeline hack, which resulted in panic-buying and gas crunches across the Southeast.

The current high prices are happening as hotel and vacation rental occupancy continues to decline in Myrtle Beach since the end of the traditional vacation season. Most weeks see just 50%-60% occupancy now, according to data from the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, indicating a sharp decline in the number of people visiting the area. Considering that Myrtle Beach is primarily a drive-to destination, it’s reasonable that a drop in visitors would correspond with a decline in demand for gas and a fall in prices.

Yet that decreased demand hasn’t translated to the pump.

The prices can primarily be attributed to decisions made by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC. The group has outsize influence on oil prices around the world and as a result largely control the price of gasoline.

The last time the organization agreed to increase oil and gas production was in July, despite demand continuing to rise in countries such as the U.S., which are farther along in their recovery from COVID-19.

Because production of oil and gas hasn’t been increasing, West Texas Intermediate crude oil, an important benchmark for energy prices in both the U.S. and around the globe, passed $80 per barrel. That price is a crucial benchmark that has rarely been touched since the end of the Oil Price War in 2016.

“The OPEC decision caused an immediate reaction in oil prices, and amidst what is turning into a global energy crunch, motorists are now spending over $400 million more on gasoline every single day than they were just a year ago,” GasBuddy’s head of petroleum analysis Patrick De Haan said in a press release. “The problems continue to relate to a surge in demand as the global economy recovers, combined with deep cuts to production from early in the pandemic. If Americans can’t slow their appetite for fuels, we’ve got no place for prices to go but up.”

Will the prices go back down? It depends.

If OPEC allows for increased production, that could have a quick calming effect on gas prices, experts say. As a stopgap, the federal Department of Energy has flirted with releasing oil from the nation’s strategic reserves. However, Reuters reported last week that outcome is unlikely at the moment.

This story was originally published October 12, 2021 1:09 PM.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Need a clean, safe home away from home? How about something near the beach, with gorgeous sunrise views and within walking distance of food and fun?

Myrtle Beach’s shoreline is filled with what can seem like an endless stream of hotels. But if you’re looking for some of the best of the best, we’ve curated a list of the most beloved places to stay.

Here are some of the most recommended hotels in Myrtle Beach, according to Yelp. Reviews are current as of the date of publication:

Four stars out of 52 reviews

Located on the north side of the boardwalk, Ocean Enclave has been praised for being at the heart of the city’s tourist sector. Visitors liked the convenient gates to the beach, and called the lobby “beautiful” and “modern.” “The rooms!!!” a reviewer wrote. “They aren’t perfect but by far the nicest resort I’ve ever stayed in. EVER. I’m tough to please.”

Four stars out of 53 reviews

Yelp users loved location, location, location. Visitors said that the hotel offers scenic views with a resort-like feel. “I love that this hotel is right on the boardwalk,” one said in a comment. “It’s nice to just walk out and be in the midst of everything.”

Four stars out of 138 reviews

The second Hampton Inn site to make the list is located directly on the beach. Reviewers noted that a complimentary shuttle goes anywhere within a five-mile radius, along with making trips to and from the airport. The hotel also has a hot breakfast, pool bar and a lazy river. “Downstairs lobby/lounge/dining area is gorgeous – certainly the nicest I have ever seen for a Hampton Inn!” a review reads.

Four stars out of 80 reviews

Yelp reviewers raved about this Hilton Grand Vacations site, liking how it was on the beach and near the city’s convention center. “This was the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed at,” a comment said. “Honestly, everything was great, everyone was friendly and it was CLEAN! The pool was sooo nice, and our room had everything we needed for a week’s stay.”

Four stars out of 76 reviews

The hotel has undergone new landscaping and has renovated its rooms, according to visitors. Customers also said there are lots of activities for children. “Very comfortable bed and clean room – love this hotel!” one person wrote.

Three stars out of 62 reviews

Yelp users said the Best Western oceanfront location is clean, contemporary and spacious. “The main pool is huge and has a real deep end, and the lazy river and hot tub are delightful as well,” a review reads. “The whole pool area is bigger than it looks in photos.”

Four stars out of 48 reviews

Located a little south, the Surfside Beach Oceanfront Hotel is within walking distance of multiple restaurants. Users said the hotel recently underwent a renovation and that “for the price it’s a prime location, with all the amenities, comfy bed” that they’d want.

Three stars out of 231 reviews

Visitors liked that The Breakers Resort is on the beach. The pool is well maintained, according to guests, and an attached restaurant offers plenty of food options. “Friendly staff and clean atmosphere,” one person wrote.

Three and a half stars out of 88 reviews

If you crave the water, Club Wyndham might be exactly what you need. The hotel has five swimming pools, in addition to hot tubs, beach access and a lazy river, according to visitors. “Beautiful resort with beautiful views,” a visitor said.

Three and a half stars out of 154 reviews

Visitors said the hotel has an easy check-in process, has a good room service team and that the rooms are spacious. “Completely gorgeous with an ocean view,” a review reads. “I’d go back in a heartbeat.”

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Leaders at Myrtle Beach International Airport plan to use this offseason to prepare for next summer on the heels of a record travel season.

Ryan Betcher with MYR said the airport’s worst year led to what will be its busiest year yet because MYR’s post-pandemic recovery rate is higher than the national average — something he attributes in part to the changing culture of travel.

“Going from business traffic to a leisure market like ours,” he said. “We were very fortunate with our carriers that they saw the demand for people wanting to come to Myrtle Beach and then also our locals wanting to get out. So, it’s something we tried to take advantage of that offseason.”

In the past year, the airport opened more TSA security lines and recently added new concessions, like Starbucks. Betcher said their staff puts a big emphasis on traveler experience.

A new baggage system, specifically designed with golf bags in mind, is also new to the airport.The tarmac is now wider and refinished. The $60 million federally-funded project, Betcher said was needed after some wear and tear in the asphalt. The new grounds are made of concrete, which he says will last longer.

A lot of the changes on the horizon at MYR will be behind the scenes, such as the addition of another 100,000-gallon fuel tank — enough for three days during the summer travel season.

“Just having additional capacity it’s really going to give us that added protection,” Betcher said. “Just a little bit more supply to weather any kind of disruptions in supply chains.”

Starting this month, canopies will be installed over the rental car parking lot. Along with computer systems to help streamline the rental process. The project costs about $20 million and will be completed in two phases over the next two years.

While airport leaders plan to move forward with expanding and adding another terminal, the pandemic slowed that process.

This is, however, the first winter that both Terminal A and Terminal B will stay open. Typically, one is closed to ease the burden on concession and janitorial staff during slow months, but Betcher says with the addition of Southwest Airlines service, they need the space.

“We’re just seeing demand even in the shoulder season going into the offseason higher than it’s ever been before so, we really need that gate space,” he said.